Tool-box



(No Mod-e1.) I 2 'Sheets-,Sheet 1. W, J.. SIMPSON. TOOL B O-X'.

N0..5o7,939. Paftened onlgsgs.-

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. J. SIMPSON. T001. B0X.

Patented Oot. 3l', 1893.

C] fp' @w d@ wnlllnmll FIGA@ (No Modem UNITED STATES y PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. SIMPSON, OF DUDLEY, NEW JERSEY. p

TooL-Box.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,939, dated October 31, 1893.

Application flied tammy 19, 1893.

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

lte it known that l, WILLIAM J. SIMPSON, a cltizen of the United States, and a resident of Dudley, Camden county, New Jersey, have Invented certain Ilnprovementsin Tool-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in tool boxes, more especially of the y class used by carpenters, and has for its object the construction of a box in such manner that it may be readily folded together or taken apart and packed in avery small space for convenience in transportation, as more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l, 1s a perspective view of a tool box constructed in accordance with my invention and illustrating the box open in readiness to receive the tools. Fig. 2, is a perspective View of the same, with the parts folded together. Fig. 3, is a plan view showing the ends of the box unfolded, and also illustrating a modification. Fig. 4, is a similar view showing the ends folded back to one side of the box and the opposite side and central partition folded down. Fig. 5, is a transverse section on the line 1 2, Fig. l. Fig. 6, is a similar sectional view on the line 3-4, Fig. 2, showing the parts folded. Figs. 7, 8 and 9, are views of details of construction.

In boxes used for carrying tools, more especially those used by carpenters, it has been found that, as a general rule, the box is of such size as will prevent its being packed in a tool chest and such boxes are usually thrown away when the user is compelled to travel any distance necessitating the making of a new box.

My inventionl therefore isy principally designed to provide a box that may be packed away in a small space when not in use, and that may be more readily carried from place to place.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents the central partition of the box, provided with the usual hand hole a, and at its lower edge is hinged at b to one portion b of the bottom B of the box, and to the portion b is hinged'at c the opposite section b2 of the bottom of the box. To the section b is hinged at d the side() and to the section b2 is similarly hinged at d', the side C of the Serial No. 459,015. (No model.)

box. At the opposite ends of each of the sides C, C', are hinged the end pieces D D by a series of hinges e, e', e2 and e3, the construction ofthe hinges being such that, when necessary, the pintle of the hinge may be removed and the end sections entirely disconnected or the pintles of the hingese2 and e3 may be removed sothat theendsDDmaybe folded back on the side C by means of the hinges e and e. The construction of each of the hinges e, c', e2 and e3 is precisely the same and such construction will be seen more clearly on reference to Fig. 8, wherein is shown a perspective View of one of the hinges detached from the box. As shown in this View t-he opposite leaves f,'f are continued down for some distance below the point of connection with the sides and ends of the box and are then twined at right angles to such leaves, forming projecting lips g g which have their edges nearest the pintle so inclined as to form, when the leaves of the hinge are at a right angle, a miter joint, and so arranged with respect to the parts ot' the box Which they connect that when in position the lips will extend under the bottoms of the corners of the box and serve to further strengthen and support the same.

When the box is of such a character as to be capable of having its parts completely separated from each other it is preferable to make the hinges with a removable pintle h and to provide at the top of said pintle a knob or handle h bywhich it maybe conveniently taken out or placed in position, but Where the parts are so arranged as to have the opposite ends ot` the box fold back on the side C it is preferable to provide only the hinges e2, e3 with such handled pintles, as in that event the person using the box is not liable to remove the pintles of the hinges e or e. The hinges which connect the central partition A with the section b', or the section b' to the section b2, or the section b2 and the section b to the side sections C and C', may be also made of movable pintles or, if desired, one part lnay be provided with a suitable opening for the reception of a pintle carried by the opposite part and the two be separated by a movement on a line parallel with structed as shown in Fig. 9.

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In connecting the central partition A with the ends D D .of the box, I preferably provide the opposite ends of the partition A with projecting tongues or fingers 1I, which 5 are adapted to extend entirely through openings i in such end portions and on the outer side of such end portions is hung a pivoted locking lever 7c the lower end of which is adapted to a suitable recess t2 in such tongue or projection so as to lock the same n the proper position and when such is the case the tongues serve, in a measure, to support and strengthen the box.

A further feature of construction is that illustrated more clearly in Fig. 7, wherein is -shown a section of one end of the box at the point where it joins the central partition A and in which is illustrated a plate m secured to the end of the box and serving as a pivot for the locking tongue or lever It' above referred to, the plate m extending down to a point some distance below the lower edge of the end portion and being there provided with an inwardly projecting lip m adapted to extend under the edges of the ends of tl e bottom sections and b2 and so support and strengthen the same.

Vhen the construction of the box is such that the sections may be readily taken apart 3o I prefer to provide one of the sides of the box with a side opening so that it may be more readily carried upon the shoulder of a workman, the center of the box being brought more nearly to the center of the shoulder or partly surrounding the neck so as to permit of the easier carrying of the tools, and in Fig. 3, and by dotted lines in Fig. l, I have shown the section b of the bottom somewhat cut away so as to form an opening p while the side of 4o the box is of corresponding shape but so arranged as` to permit the fastening of the box together in the usual way, while the remaining sections, after the removal of the bent side piece, may be either separated or merely folded together.

In Figs. 3 and 4,1 have illustrated the box in the course of being folded up, it being understood that if the construction is that shown in full lines, with the side C bent to conform 5o to the opening p, this side must first be removed before folding the remaining parts.

The locking levers 7e have been moved out of engagement with the locking recesses t" in the projections and the pintles of the hinges e2, e3 have been removed so as to permit the swinging of the ends I) D on their pivot points e and e.

Fig. 4, illustrates a further stage of the folding and in this figure the side C which in this case is straight, as in dotted lines, Fig. 3, has been folded down onto the section b of the bottom; the central partition A has been folded down on top of the side C and the two end sections have been folded entirely back on the outside of the side C. To Complete the folding it is only necessary to fold at the joints c and d and the box will then assume the shape shown in Figs. 2 and 6, in which condition it maybe conveniently packed away or carried from place to place.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. The combination in a folding tool box, of the bottom divided longitudinally and hinged together, a folding longitudinal partition or center piece hinged to one of said bottom sections and folding side and end p eces, substantially as specified.

2. The combination in a folding toolbox, of

` the bottom divided longitudinally and hinged together, the folding side pieces hinged re- `spectively to the two sections of the bottom, and the folding end pieces each hinged to one of the folding side pieces, substantially as specified.

3. The combination in a folding tool box, of

`the bottom piece, the side pieces hinged to said bottom so as to fold down thereon and the end pieces hinged to said side pieces so as to turn back thereon, each of the hinges connecting said side and end pieces having at the bottom beveled fianges which project b`eneath the bottom of the box and brace the corners of the same, substantially as specified.

4. The combination in afolding tool box, of

` the bottom divided longitudinally and hinged together in the center, the folding longitudinal center piece hung to one of said bottom sections and having projecting lugs at the ends, the folding side pieces and the folding end pieces, each of the latter' having a plate with catch for engaging'with the lug of the center piece and bottom flange for projecting beneath the bottom of the box and stiifening IOO 

